By Paige Combridge

OUTCOME 4: Performance Analysis SAC. Q1. Describe examples of how two non-naturalistic theatrical conventions were used to tell the story in this performance. COSTUME: When singing popular Glinda’s wide range of shoes were on display. Showing the audience that to be popular you have to take pride in you appearance. Because Elphaba only wears dark plain clothes it adds to the fact that she is green and she thinks whatever she wears won’t match. The amazing green outfits that the citizens of emerald city wear makes it look like a wealthy city. The Wizard and Madame Morribles costumes look very expensive and show that the look after themselves. The different colours of the costumes represent evil and good for Elphaba and Glinda. The costumes helped explain to the audience the social standing of each character.

SONGS: All of the songs helped the story be told. They added so much depth to the story line and performance. When Elphaba sang the Wizard and I, it gave the audience a background to Elphaba’s character. It also gives us the first glimpse of what Madame Morrible is like because if Elphaba makes good then she can be with the Wizard. The climax of the play was defying gravity, it was such an important part because it is when she decides to do her own thing and not follow orders for the Wizard. She is going to do what she thinks is right. The song popular is a great contract to the rest of the story. It is so boppy and happy, which is just like Glinda’s character. It takes the audience to Glinda’s point of view which in this case is, everything will be ok if your popular like her. The closing song “For Good” is so moving. The way it was staged and sung just made the perfect end to the performance. The mood of the scene was ideal and showed that they would forever be friends.

Q2: Describe one character from the performance, including a brief description of their personality, status and motivation (what did they want?) AND their purpose in the plot (who or what did they represent?) ELPHABA. Elphaba is a determined, misunderstood young lady. She is upfront, honest and no one really likes her to begin with. The student of Shiz are threatened by her and are frightened of her green skin. Her father doesn’t treat her very well and only sent to her to Shiz to help look after her younger sister Nessarose. But when she is made to room with Galinda the Good, a friendship develops. Elphaba’s motivation throughout the story to help save the animals in Oz. Her purpose in the plot is the evil villain. But until you read the whole story that just isn’t true, she was all along just trying to help. Elphaba represented the misunderstood villain, she whole town celebrated when the news of her death was announced because they were made to believe she was working evil.

Q3: Evaluate how one actor used his/her expressive skills to portray their character. You will need to describe at least 3 specific expressive skills the actor used and evaluate how effective these were to portray the character to the audience. LUCY DURACK VOICE Lucy gave Glinda a high pitched, buzzing and quite annoying voice. It was a contrast to Elphaba’s dull, low voice. This was good when they were singing, because Lucy was up so high and Amanda was low. Lucy also spoke really fast and the pace made her seem excited all the time. She also had her own little language and when she said a word that was twisted she slowed it down for the audience to understand. FACIAL EXPRESSI ONS Lucy had a lot of different facial expressions through out the performance. But they all help to portray Glinda as ditzy and energetic. The most memorable were here head tilts, really sad face and her shocked face. She would overemphasize everything and that gave the character a drama queen feeling. MOVEMENT Lucy Durack gave Glinda leg twitches, dance moves and a lot of energy. She put a skip in Glinda’s step, every move she made was bubbly.

Q4: Evalua te how two dramat ic elemen ts were used to engage the audien ce and commun icate meanin g. You may refer to the use of any stage craft elemen ts as part of your answer. You may descri be one moment from the perfor mance where 2 dramat ic elemen ts were presen t togeth er or 2 separa te exampl es for each dramat ic elemen t. THE WITCH FIGHT For the first time Glinda and Elphaba took physical action on one another. It was a personal climax for Elphaba because her best friends had given away her sister’s shoes that she wanted and for Glinda it was the first time she had seen Elphaba since she took Fiyero from her. This resulted in conflict between the best friends. It filled the audience with tension because we had seen this friendship blossom and it looked to be coming to an end. RHYTHM, was used to keep the play flowing and keep the audience interested. The rhythm that the play went along was song, dialogue, song, dialogue. This kept the audience foucused on each event as it happened and not guessing what would happen next. MOOD, the mood of the play changed all the time. For a moment you would he happy and then get scared, all in the same scene. The lighting helped set the mood of each scene and make it so appealing to the eye.

Q5: For one of the moments represented, Or and for another moment of your choice, explain how to stage craft elements were used in the performance. EMERALD CITY The little fairy lights that lit the whole stage green made this moment so unforgettable. The costumes it this part were also amazing, they were so extravagant. DEFYING GRAVITY When Elphaba rose into the air the set design was so clever and made it really look like she was flying. The timing for this moment had to be perfect, so the direction for this was very well done. It would be practiced over and over again to pull it off so effortlessly.